Folding chair



I Sept, 3, 1929. I w. c. RASTETTER FOLDING CHAIR Filed Jan. 11, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 igli -lz 4 m INVENTORQ ATTORNEY Sept. 3, 1929 w. c. RASTETTER FOLDING CHAIR Filed Jan. 11, 1928 2 Sheets--Sheet @W MlNVENTOR BY %u/VM ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

UNITED STATES,

WILLIAM C. BASTETTER, OF FORTWAYNE, INDIANA.

FOLDING- CHAIR.

Application filed January 11, 192

This invention relates to improvements in folding chairs of that general type set forth in my previous application for folding chairs, filed June 24, 1927, Sr. No. 201,178. The object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible seat support including forelegs, rear legs and back frame in connection with a seat that may be folded in relation with the back without collapsing the legs and back, the purpose being to permit the seat to be raised and folded against the back without disturbing the other extended members. This provision is of especial advantage where a number of chairs are placed side by side in a series of rows, as the raising of the seats facilitates ingress and egress persons between the rows without disturbance of the positions of the chairs. Another object of the improvements is to provide an automatic locking means whereby the chair will be sustained in extended position and prevented from unintentional collapse.

These objects are accomplished by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a central section of a chair in extended position for use in which the invention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the chair in folded position;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary cross section of the seat frame and showing also portions of other members of the chair adjacent thereto, the view being upon an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a latch by which the chair is secured in extended position;

Fig. 5 is a central section of the chair in extended position showing the latch applied thereto in engaging position; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary rear view projected from Fig. 5.

The characters appearing in the description refer to parts shown in the drawings and designated thereon by corresponding characters.

The invention comprises a pair of front legs 1 and rear legs 2, said front and rear legs being disposed in pairs pivoted together upon a transverse rod 3, said pair of front legs being provided with a cross brace 4L, and said pair of rear legs being provided with a similar cross brace 5.

A back rest frame 6 has fixed in its lower end a cross rod 7 which rod has pivotal con-' Serial No. 245,911.

corresponding link 8, there being a pivot 9 connecting the link withsaid leg. Said rod 7 has also connection with each fore leg by means of a corresponding link 10, there being a pivotal connection 11 between each of the latter links and the corresponding fore leg.

The back rest frame has connection with the transverse rod 3 by means of links 12, one for each side of the back frame, each link having a pivotal connection 13 with the corresponding side of said back frame. The links 12 are connected together by a transverse bar 14 so that said links are held fixedly spaced apart.

A seat frame 15 having a seat 16 secured thereon, has in fixed relation in each side thereof an. angle iron 17 that affords support for the overlying portion of the-seat, and has also connection at its rear end with the cross bar 14 by means of a hinge 18. Said angle irons bear upon the tops of the corresponding legs 1 and 2 when the seat is in extended position. for use, which seat thereby receives support, and the hinges 18 permit the seat, together with its frame, to be swung upwardly and folded against the back frame without affecting the relative position of the back frame and legs. Upon one of the rear legs 2, upon the inner side thereof is pivoted a latch member 20, the pivot therefor being indicated at 21. The latch has made therein a threat 22 shaped to receive the cross rod 7 when the chair is fully extended. Said latch is formed with an extending end 23 provided with a lateral extension 24, which extension, when the latch is in place, overlaps the rear face of the rear leg 2 to which the latch is secured, and downward movement of the lat-ch is thereby limited when the extension contacts with said leg. Also, said latch has at its top a laterally extending finger 25 that overlaps the rear face of said leg so that upward turning movement of the latch is limited, said extension and finger being disposed to prevent the latch from turning beyond its operable range.

In utilizing the invention, when the chair is extended in position for use, as shown in Fig. 1, the seat may be raised to the position .shown in dotted outline, or, if it be desired to fold the said structure completely, by moving the latch downwardly, which can be done readily by applying pressure with the foot of the operator so that the rod 7 is released, the back frame may be swung forwardly so that the rear legs are elevated from the floor,

ill

transverse bar connecting said links;

whereupon the structure, while resting upon the front legs will collapse and the legs become folded against the front of the back structure, as shown in Fig. 2. The chair is unfolded by grasping the top of the back frame and lifting the structure from the floor, and swinging the seat outwardly to its full extended position against the tops of the legs which causes the leg structure to move into their extended positions. The rod 7 in the lower end of the back frame comes into contact with the face 26 of the latch 20, causing the latch to tilt upon its pivot and receive the rod in its throat. In this manner removal of the rod from the latch is prevented and the chair is sustained in its extended position.

What I claim is 1. In a folding chair, a pair of fore legs; a pair of rear legs; a cross rod upon which said legs have pivoted connection at their upper ends; a back structure including a transverse rod at its lower end a link connection between each side of said back structure and cross rod, connecting said legs; a a pair of links connecting the lower end of said back structure with said rear legs; another pair of links connecting the lower end of said back structure with said forelegs; and a seat structure including a pair of angle irons fixed in said seat structure and hinged on said transverse bar, said angle irons having bearing relation upon the tops of said legs when the seat structure is extended for use, said seat structure being foldable against said back structure independently of said legs.

2. In a folding chair, a pair of front and a pair of rear legs, a cross rod pivotally connecting all of the legs at their upper ends, a back, link connections between said back and said cross rod, link devices between the lower part of the back and each of the legs, a transverse bar between said link connections, a seat, and means connected to the seat and pivoted to said bar and engageable with the tops of the legs to support the seat from the legs and to provide for upward movement of the seat while the legs and back remain in operative position.

3. In a folding chair, front and rear legs, a back, means to connect the legs to each other, means to connect the legs and back, a cross rod carried by the back and engageable with the rear legs to hold the back in operative position, a seat connected to the back and receiving support from the legs, and means to hold the parts against folding composed of a latch pivoted to the rear leg and movable to engage said cross rod, said latch having a footengaging portion and further having means engageable with the rear leg to limit swinging movement thereof.

In testimony whereof I aflix iny signature.

\VILLIAM C. RASTETTER. 

